Flatfair & End of Tenancy Cleaning
Flatfair calls their product "No Deposit" — but that doesn't mean no responsibility and definitely doesn't mean no risk. In fact, Flatfair gives your landlord the highest coverage of any major deposit replacement scheme: up to 10 weeks' rent. That's double what a traditional cash deposit allows. So when it comes to end of tenancy cleaning, the stakes are actually higher, not lower.
Here's how Flatfair works, what happens with cleaning charges, and how to make sure you're not caught out when you move.
28% + VAT
Of monthly rent (your fee)
10 weeks
Maximum landlord coverage
~10 days
Claim resolution target
£0/yr
No annual renewal fee
How Flatfair Works — the Basics
Same idea as other deposit alternatives, but with some important differences in how much it costs and how much can be claimed against you.
You pay a one-off check-in fee
28% of your first month's rent, plus VAT. Minimum £120. In a shared flat, this is split equally between all tenants. Unlike Reposit and Zero Deposit, there's no yearly renewal — you pay once and the membership covers your entire tenancy, however long it lasts.
Your landlord gets the highest coverage available
Up to 10 weeks' rent. That's double the 5-week limit on cash deposits, and higher than both Reposit (8 weeks) and Zero Deposit (6 weeks). More coverage for the landlord means a higher maximum that could potentially be claimed against you.
During the tenancy — nothing changes
You pay rent, follow the tenancy agreement, and look after the property. Same as any other tenancy. The Flatfair membership runs in the background.
When you leave — you only pay for what you actually owe
Flatfair's pitch is that you only pay for real problems. If the property is clean and undamaged, there's nothing more to pay. If there are issues, the landlord raises a claim, and you pay whatever is agreed or awarded. The money comes from your pocket — there's no held deposit to take from.
What You'll Actually Pay — Real Numbers
Flatfair's fee is a percentage of your rent, so it scales up as your rent goes up. Here's what it looks like at different London rent levels — and what the landlord can claim against you.
£1,200/month
£403 (28% × £1,200 + VAT)
£2,769
£1,385
£1,500/month
£504 (28% × £1,500 + VAT)
£3,462
£1,731
£1,800/month
£605 (28% × £1,800 + VAT)
£4,154
£2,077
£2,200/month
£739 (28% × £2,200 + VAT)
£5,077
£2,538
Look at the "Max Landlord Claim" column. At £1,800/month rent, the landlord can claim up to £4,154 through Flatfair — versus £2,077 with a normal deposit. That's the difference between losing your deposit and receiving a bill for more than double.
What Happens With Cleaning Charges
The process from checkout to payment. Flatfair's 10-day resolution target makes this faster than most schemes — but the principles are the same.
You move out and hand back the keys
All the normal end of tenancy checks still happen — checkout inspection, comparison with check-in report, photos. Nothing is different here from a normal tenancy.
Landlord raises a claim on the Flatfair platform
If there are cleaning issues, the landlord submits the charges with evidence — checkout report, photos, quotes or invoices. Flatfair's platform handles everything digitally.
Flatfair works with both sides to resolve it
Flatfair aims to sort claims within about 10 days, working with you and the landlord to find a fair resolution. This is faster than traditional deposit disputes. They look at the evidence and try to reach an agreement both sides accept.
If you agree — you pay the amount
You pay the landlord for whatever you've agreed is fair. If you're not sure whether the cleaning amount is reasonable, our guide to end of tenancy cleaning costs in London gives you benchmarks to compare against.
If you can't agree — formal adjudication
An independent adjudicator reviews the evidence and makes a binding decision. Same principles as traditional deposit disputes: the landlord has to prove the claim, they can't charge for betterment, and costs must be proportionate. Important: you pay a £25 adjudication fee. You get it back if the adjudicator awards less than the landlord originally claimed.
10 Weeks' Coverage — What This Actually Means for You
This is the biggest number in the deposit alternatives world. Here's why it matters.
The maximum your landlord can claim is double a normal deposit
A traditional cash deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent. Flatfair gives landlords 10 weeks. If your monthly rent is £1,800, a normal deposit caps claims at about £2,077 — with Flatfair, the ceiling is £4,154. This doesn't mean the landlord will claim that much, but they can. The more that can be claimed, the more important it is that cleaning isn't one of the reasons.
Cleaning charges are just one part of the claim
The 10-week coverage covers cleaning, damage, and unpaid rent combined. If the landlord claims £500 for cleaning and £2,000 for damage, that's £2,500 — well within the Flatfair ceiling but way above a normal deposit cap. A professional end of tenancy clean takes cleaning off the table entirely, so any remaining claim is smaller and easier to dispute.
Higher coverage doesn't mean higher charges will be upheld
The adjudicator still applies the same rules: costs must be proportionate to the shortfall, the check-in report sets the baseline, and the landlord can't improve the property at your expense. A £4,000 ceiling doesn't mean £4,000 will be awarded — but it does mean the landlord has room to claim for more things if the evidence supports it.
The Good and the Not-So-Good
Flatfair has some genuine advantages over other deposit alternatives — and some drawbacks you should know about. We've split them out so you can see both sides.
What's good
Watch out for
No annual renewal fee
Unlike Reposit (£30/year) and Zero Deposit (£17.50/year), Flatfair charges once and covers the entire tenancy. For long tenancies, this saves money. For short tenancies (under 12 months), the other providers might be cheaper upfront since their initial fees are lower.
Faster resolution (~10 days)
Flatfair targets 10-day resolution for claims. Traditional deposit disputes through the DPS or TDS can take 4-8 weeks. If there are cleaning issues, faster resolution means it gets sorted quicker and you can move on.
Potential discount on future membership
Flatfair offers up to 20% off a future membership fee if your tenancy ends with no charges or arrears. It's a small incentive, but it rewards tenants who look after the property — and it makes the next move slightly cheaper.
How to Protect Yourself
With the highest landlord coverage of any major scheme, preparation matters even more. These five things give you the strongest position.
Get a professional clean — the receipt is your best evidence
With up to 10 weeks' rent at stake, the cleaning receipt from a professional end of tenancy clean isn't just helpful — it's essential. It proves you took your obligations seriously and shifts the burden to the landlord to show what was actually wrong. Our cleans come with a dated receipt and photos, plus a 72-hour reclean guarantee if the checkout flags anything.
Photograph everything on your last day
Every room, every surface, every appliance interior. Date-stamped. Location-tagged. If there's ever a dispute, the adjudicator decides based on photos and documents — they never visit the property. Our cleaning checklist covers exactly what to photograph and in what order.
Check what the check-in report actually says
The check-in report is your defence. If it says the property was "domestically clean with some omissions," the landlord can't claim you should return it to a professional deep-clean standard. That would be betterment — and adjudicators don't allow it.
Compare the landlord's claim against real costs
If the landlord claims £400 for cleaning a 1-bed flat, check if that's reasonable. Our cost guide for London shows typical prices. If they're claiming well above market rates, get two or three quotes from local companies and include them in your response. Adjudicators regularly reduce claims that are above market rates.
Don't be put off by the £25 adjudication fee
If the landlord is claiming £500 and you think it should be £100, paying £25 to have an independent adjudicator look at it is worth it — especially since you get the £25 back if the award is less than what the landlord originally claimed. Don't let a small fee stop you from disputing an unfair charge.
Flatfair vs Reposit vs Zero Deposit
Quick comparison so you can see where Flatfair sits. For the full picture, see our deposit alternatives hub.
Upfront fee
28% of monthly rent + VAT (min £120)
~1 week's rent
1 week's rent + £59.99
Annual renewal
None
£30/year
£17.50/year
Landlord coverage
Up to 10 weeks
Up to 8 weeks
Up to 6 weeks
Tenant adjudication fee
£25 (refundable if you win)
Free
Free
Resolution speed
~10 days target
~14 days + 20 days payout
Up to 20 working days (TDS)
Fee refundable?
No
No
No
Is Flatfair regulated?
Yes. Flatfair is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Issues with their service can be reported to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Like Reposit and Zero Deposit, Flatfair is not a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme — it's a separate insurance product. Your landlord must still offer you the choice of a traditional cash deposit under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
Other Deposit Replacement Schemes
Related Guides
10 weeks' coverage means the stakes are higher
A professional clean with a dated receipt takes cleaning completely off the table — so any remaining claim is smaller and easier to challenge.
Deni is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in content marketing and vast knowledge in the cleaning business. He specializes in creating engaging content that drives growth and builds brand identity. Passionate about innovation, Deni believes in delivering value through impactful messaging and providing value to readers in a concise and comprehensive manner.
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